Voices of Women Unitarian Universalist Women’s Connection Newsletter Fall 2009

Goodbye George Williams Retreat Center All Seasons “Women’s Voices”, “Women’s Spiritual Journey: Mother, Maiden, Crone.” AND those were This year, the 27th year at the Lake Geneva George only the themes with the word “women” in the title. Williams College/Aurora University Retreat Center at Williams Bay, Wisconsin, 2009 fall retreat participants In other years’ theme titles were: “Searching, Sharing, will bid farewell to the retreat center location. The Soaring”, “Let Your Spirits Soar”, “Renewal”, “The focus and goals of George Williams have been Goddess Within You.” “We Laugh, We Cry, We Live, changing for several years effecting not only the UU We Die, We Dance, We Sing Our Songs”, “Under One Women’s Connection, but also many other groups Sky—Cosmic Theology”, “Sisters on a Journey: who have used the center over the years. Remembering the Future”, “Intuitive Living in the FEMillenium” “The Sacred Within” “Celebrating the Retreats will continue during the spring and summer Goddess: “Sources of Wisdom”, “Creating Joy”, “ My months, but the board at George Williams/Aurora Body: Live, Love, Laugh”, “Feel the Rhythm”, “Peace University will discontinue “off season” retreats that of Cake.” 2009 theme, “It is what it is…healing in traditionally have been scheduled after the end of hard times.” is planned by the women of Unity Temple October. This “off season” rate has enabled the UU Congregation of Oak Park Illinois. (More info Connection and our predecessor, CMwD-UUWF, to about the 2009 retreat on page three.) keep the costs reasonable and accessible to many women. So it is with a heavy heart that the decision to Notable keynote speakers and performers at Lake th leave the retreat center at the end of the 27 year is Geneva in 27 years were: Carolyn McDade, (twice) made. The Connection Council is looking for an Mary Grace Stern, Lela Miller, Patricia Fares O’Malley, alternate location and will have news about that soon. Ruth Barnard, Carol Graywing, Shelley Jackson “It is what it is”… and we must move on. Denham, (twice) Jennifer Armstrong, Jennifer Berezan,

Pam Greenslate, Rev. Mary Ann Macklin, Patricia A Brief Fall Retreat History: In November 5-7, Monaghan, Rev. Jacquie Meli, Wendy Selene, Meg 1982 the women of the Rockford, Illinois Barnhouse, Judy Piazza and Nancy Vedder-Shults. In Congregation’s Alliance Women’s group began the 2009 we will welcome Rev. Rebecca Armstrong. fall conference featuring Carolyn McDade. The only Thank you to women’s groups over the years that have workshop, “Choosing Wellness” was conducted by planned the Lake Geneva Fall Retreat. Thanks also to Rosalie Knutson and Norma Anerberg-Freeberg. many Connection Council and UUWF Board members Over the many years at the Williams Bay location on who recruited planners and assisted in every year of Lake Geneva retreat themes have spoken to the times planning for 27 years. and the changes in the lives of women since 1982. The 1986 fall retreat information is missing but was Some theme titles are: “Women for all Seasons”, deemed “a dream come true with over 100 women in “Women in Transition…Women on Retreat”, attendance” in the 1987 Winter VOW; no further “Women’s Web”, “Women and Wisdom, Coming of Age“, “Empowerment: Women as Agents of information is available about the retreat. * Change.” “A Circle of Women Joined”, “Women For See page two for the list of host congregations who

planned Lake Geneva through the years.

Let your life be the poem you write. --Bokonon *If you have information about this or other retreats for our archives, please contact Pat Goller, VOW editor.

Lake Geneva Retreat Hosts 1982-2009 Southern (Illinois) Hospitality A special thanks to the women of the Carbondale, Illinois 1982, 1987, 1998: Hosts: Rockford Illinois Unitarian Church who hosted the Connection council UU Church. for the third quarter meeting. Thanks also to Diana’s 1983: Hosts: Beverly Unitarian Church, mother-in-law, Jewel DeWeese, who allowed Chicago, Illinois. councilors to stay at her Carbondale home where we 1984, 1989, 1993: Hosts: First Unitarian slept, cooked and met together for our third quarter Society, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. meeting and annual retreat. Council also worked 1985: Hosts: First Unitarian Society and there like “elves-in-the-night” on the banner pictured Prairie UU Society, both of Madison, below. Wisconsin. 1988: Hosts: Park Forest, Illinois UU Women’s Connection councilors presented a program Church. Saturday afternoon at the Carbondale church from the 1990: Combined UUWF and W&R feminist curriculum: Cakes for the Queen of Heaven: Women’s convocation at LG. (Spring 1990) On the Threshold. The final session, “Future 1991: Hosts: Former and Current UUWF Fantasies” in the newly released Part 2 of the Board Members. Curriculum by Rev. Shirley Ranck was the focus of 1992, 2002: Hosts: Olympia Brown UU the presentation and called on women in attendance Church, Racine, Wisconsin. to think about themselves and the world 15 years into 1994: Hosts: Fox Valley UU Fellowship, the future. Appleton, Wisconsin. The Future Fantasies 1995: Hosts: UU Church of Bloomington, banner gave participants Illinois. an opportunity to 1996, 2001, 2009: Hosts: Unity Temple conceptualize those UU Congregation, Oak Park, Illinois. “fantasies” in a quilt 1997: Hosts: UU Society of Geneva, square, which was made Illinois and Elgin, Illinois UU Church. into a banner and 1999, 2003, 2007: Hosts: North Shore presented at Sunday UU Church, Deerfield, Illinois. service the following 2000: Hosts: UU Church of Peoria, Illinois morning. Pictured in and ALUUC of Springfield, Illinois. the photo in 2004: Hosts: Unitarian Church of Carbondale’s lovely Evanston, Illinois. sanctuary from left to right are councilors: Kathy 2005: Hosts: Congregational Unitarian Kline of Decatur, Illinois; Pat Goller and Diana Church. Woodstock, Illinois. DeWeese of Springfield, Illinois; Nicole Nichols of 2006: Hosts: ALUUC Springfield, Illinois. St Louis, Missouri and Tori Kilhoffer of Danvers, 2008: Hosts: UU Women’s Connection Illinois. Not shown are Jennifer Evans of Oak Park, Council. Illinois who joined our meeting through conference Looking forward… call and Janice Bailey of Chicago, Illinois who took the train home on Saturday afternoon. We cannot look behind us for answers. They do not live there. We must imagine ourselves forward, Newly recruited Women’s Connection Councilors for envision the world we want to create, and feel the new 2010 from Carbondale, Cathy Kline and Debbie reality in every cell of our beings in order to bring it Czarnopys-White, along with Carla Feldhamer gave a about-for it is our feelings, our heartfelt emotions, that program for Sunday service about the International will inspire the new choices and open our minds to the UU Women’s Convocation they attended in the new solutions. The question is not what is wrong and spring. The inspirational service featured music of how can we fix it? The question is what does the world Emma’s Revolution and Shelly Graff, who performed we want to live in look like? at the convocation. Personal UU Women’s --Jan Phillips from The Art of Original Thinking Convocation memories were shared by Carla, Cathy and Debbie. Thank you to the Carbondale church Special thanks to pro bono attorney, Kathryn Vanden Berk, members who made it an outstanding weekend for who stepped in front of Oak Park’s speeding Fall Retreat planning train in August and convinced the retreat center to allow us a final women. (Look for 2010 councilors’ welcome in the November Fall Retreat at George Williams Retreat Center. Winter VOW newsletter and annual report.) www.nonprofitlawchicago.com Like to host the council for a quarterly meeting in 2010? Contact any councilor listed in this issue.

“IT IS WHAT IT IS…HEALING IN HARD SAVE THE DATE: TIMES” 2009 UU Women’s Connection Fall 2010 Spring Conference Retreat, November 6th-8th on Lake Geneva, WI. June 4-6 Pilgrim Park Retreat Center

th Keynote: Teri Freesmeyer Don’t miss this last (27 ) UU Women’s Connection fall www.artoftransforming.com retreat held at George Williams/Aurora University Retreat Center with keynote Rev. Rebecca Armstrong. Let us Pilgrim Park near Princeton, Illinois, just off I-80, is an celebrate the joy of connecting with sisters in the CMwD- oasis of peace and green with a rustic and natural UUA. setting, lovely chapel with trees all around, pleasant How many times have you said, “It is what it is”? The staff, wholesome food and comfortable words resonate because we are all struggling with accommodations. On June 4-6, 2010 add your acceptance during this economically, culturally, politically SISTERS to the mix. and spiritually transitional time UU Women’s Connection promises pampering and de- Friday In-Gathering: Kicks off with a ceremonial walk stressing with a spa for body and soul. Take around a Native American inspired medicine wheel created advantage of our retreat payment plan, request a by the women of Unity UU Temple in Oak Park, Illinois. scholarship or receive a first-time attendance grant.

Saturday Activities: Rev. Armstrong’s keynote will (First–five new attendees who register will receive address the powerful symbolism of gold in “Living the their $50. registration free back.) However you do Golden Years – Without the Gold”. It is a journey through it…plan to join us for the most relaxing, reasonably stories, fables and myths of our ancestors with Rev. priced retreat for women in 2010! Armstrong’s story telling and songs. Feel how healing the story telling process itself can be. Then enjoy a wide range Check the Winter VOW for developing news. Or join of workshop choices including a field trip to Yerkes us at our website: www.uuwomensconnection.org Observatory, reiki, sound therapy, what’s up on Wall Street, creative aging, yoga and shiatsu. Vendors, movies, UU Women’s Connection drumming, bonfires and open mic are all part of the event. 2009 Council

More: Stay till Sunday closing and enjoy a final Geo. Janice Bailey Williams lunch with sisters. Plan now to attend. Don’t Chicago, IL wait…Register today!!! Brochure and Registration form: 312-842-0182 www.uuwomensconnection.org [email protected] ~~~~ Diana DeWeese, Chair Nurturing Ourselves ~ Sustaining Our World Springfield, IL 217-546-5834 February 26-28, 2010 [email protected] WOMANSPIRIT 2010 CONFERENCE Milwaukee, Wisconsin Jennifer Evans First Unitarian Society, Womanspirit and Central Oak Park, IL Midwest Women and Religion Committee 708-386-1840 [email protected] Keynote Speaker: Starhawk Internationally known author, peace and environmental activist Pat Goller, Vice Chair and a founder of the woman’s spirituality movement. Springfield, IL For Info Contact: 217-787-0687 Janet Nortrom ~ [email protected] ~ 414-964-3764 [email protected] ~~~~ Tori Kilhoffer Danvers, IL 309-963-6090

Wisconsin RCRC Faith and Justice [email protected]

Professor R. Alta Charo of UW-Madison Law and Medical Kathy Kline Schools will speak at the Third Annual Faith & Justice Decatur, IL Awards Dinner and receive the 2009 Faith & Justice Award. 217-428-1807 [email protected] The dinner will be held on Tuesday, October 13,

2009 at Bethany United Methodist Church, 3910 Mineral Nichole Nichols, Treasurer Point Rd, Madison, WI beginning at 6:00p.m. St Louis, MO

341-569-7103

Reservations - http://faithandjustice.eventbrite.com [email protected] Women’s Connection 1331 W. Glenn Avenue Springfield, Illinois 62704 www.uuwomensconnection.org

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The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive. -- Thich Nhat Han

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In 2009: Register units of nine or more in 2009 for only $9 each. “9 for $9 in 2009.” Individual memberships are $10. Get Connected Calendar Your support and voice helps write the calendar. Membership/Mailing List Update Have you moved? Let us know so you won’t miss thing. November 6-8: 27th Lake Geneva Fall Retreat UU Women’s Connection NAME______November 7: 2009 Annual Meeting ADDRESS______December 2009 Connection Annual Report Due Winter VOW

February 26-28: 2010 W&R Comm. WomanSpirit PHONE______1st Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, WI. E-MAIL______April 30-May 2 2010 CMwD District Assembly CHURCH/GROUP______Chicago-area

June 4-6, 2010 UU Women’s Connection Spring Conference Pilgrim Park Retreat Center Clip and send. Princeton, Illinois